Mathilde’s neglect in taking care of herself catches up to her body and her legs give out while she’s on a long run. She hobbles back to her house only to find the private investigator pouring wine in her kitchen.

The investigator gives Mathilde a stack of incriminating photographs of Chollie’s “buddies,” and the images are repulsive enough for Mathilde to feel confident that she can take him down with this newly-found evidence.

Mathilde relives various parties that she and Lotto attended. During one particularly influential event, Mathilde befriends Phoebe Delmar, Lotto’s harshest critic. Mathilde learns that Phoebe admires her husband, but is trying to push him to be more and transcend into the true artist she knows he can be, as displayed by the quieter moments in his writing.

Lotto notices Mathilde getting along with a stranger for once and questions her name. Mathilde fibs she never caught it and when Lotto’s next play debuts, Phoebe gives him his first positive review. Lotto dies six weeks later, before he can write any more.

After her first night sleeping next to Lotto, Mathilde leaves to contemplate the morality of either worming her way into Lotto’s perfect life and sharing it with him or doing the right thing and walking away, so he can find someone he deserves.